Objective To observe the preventive and therapeutic effects of
Yiqihuoxuejieduhuatan Formula (YF) on rat
hepatic fibrosis
induced by dimethylni-trosamine (DMN). Methods The model of
hepatic fibrosis was established by using DMN then they were divided into two groups. Group 1 was given YF at the beginning (prevention) and the end (treatment) of hepatic fibrosis induced respectively. Group 2 was injected with recombinant human interferon α2b as the control group. The activities of ALT and AST, levels of TBiL, TP, Alb, LN in rat serum were detected 90 days later. The contents of Ⅳ-C, HA and PCⅢ were measured by radioimmunoassay method. The histopathological changes of liver cells in rats were observed with the optical microscopy after the stain of hematoxylin-eosin and picric acid-sirius red. Results In group 1 the activities of ALT, AST and levels of TBiL and LN were decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the levels of TP and Alb were increased significantly (P<0.05) in the prevention. The levels of Ⅳ-C and HA were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the treatment. The damage of liver cells and the fibrosis degree were relieved after both the prevention and treatment. The fibrosis scores were reduced significantly (P<0.05) in the prevention. Conclusion YF has a preventive or therapeutic effect on rat hepatic fibrosis induced by DMN. In addition the prophylactic of YF can arrest the formation and development of rat hepatic fibrosis.